Beautiful Borage Oil

A beautiful flower can actually provide many health benefits. That’s the case of borage. Also known as starflower, borage (borago officinalis) is an herb in the flowering plant family Boraginaceae. Native to the Mediterranean region, this beautiful plant is commercially cultivated for borage seed oil, extracted from its seeds and proved to offer a variety of health benefits.

Borage oil contains high levels of the fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a strong anti-inflammatory. GLA is one type of omega-6 essential fatty acid that the body cannot make on its own and, consequently, must be obtained from food sources or supplements. GLA is present in very small amounts in plants like green leafy vegetables and certain nuts, but after humans are finished with breast milk, the most significant source of GLA, many people take in very low doses of beneficial GLA throughout their childhood and into adulthood, resulting in deficiency.

Additionally, borage oil provides other benefits as its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties can treat PMS symptoms, skin disorders, and osteoporosis, as well as promote breast-mil production, and prevent heart disease and stroke.